Hotel History

Since
opening its doors on April 15, 1958, the largest hotel in the city has a
special place in the heart of Montrealers and visitors from around the world.
At the time, the sleek 21-storey convention hotel was hailed as a masterpiece
of innovation. Its construction above Central Station called for the most
audacious techniques to eliminate the vibrations due to trains passing
underneath. The Queen Elizabeth introduced new standards of hospitality to
Montreal and was the keystone of a major renewal of the city’s downtown core.

Designed
by the architects of Canadian National to be the ideal hotel for international
conventions, it comprised 1,216 rooms with a typically Canadian decor. It was
one of the first hotels in North America with escalators, centralized air
conditioning and direct dial telephones in each room. The restaurants and cafes
were inspired by the culinary traditions of France and Quebec and promoted
local cuisine. The hotel delighted all gourmet guests and foodies with its
Beaver Club restaurant, named after the oldest private club in Canada, which
brought together people who enjoy the finer things in life and explorers from
the far North.

From
its inauguration, this unique property distinguished itself by the comfort of
its rooms, the competence and efficiency of its personnel and the high quality
of its restaurants. Since 1958, The Queen Elizabeth has been a reference in the
world of luxury hospitality and a proud partner of the city’s vibrant social
community. Its history is closely linked with the city and its economic
development. Host of hundreds of prestigious events, home away from home for
politicians, business leaders and celebrities, the hotel is also the meeting
place for Montrealers.

In
1961, the hotel was connected to Place Ville Marie by a corridor below street
level that launched the first link to the Underground City. During Expo 67,
fifty of the sixty visiting heads of state stayed in its luxurious suites. In
1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their famous Bed-In for Peace during which
the ex-Beatles composed and recorded Give Peace a Chance, a song that quickly
became a worldwide peace anthem. In 1976, the hotel was chosen as headquarters
for the International Olympic Committee and welcomed dignitaries and
international delegations.

Over
the last few decades, prestigious personalities such as the members of British
royal family, kings, queens and movie stars have graced us with their visit. Of
course, the hotel is not only for celebrities, it takes great pride in being
part of the cherished memories and milestones of Montreal families and
corporations.

The
objective of the hotel's transformation in 2017 was precisely to make the
establishment even more welcoming and to make it an important contributor to
the social life of the Montreal community. Its new design reflects its
commitment to continually renew itself and offer the highest standards of
luxury hotels.